Outdoor game board

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method of playing a lawn game uses washer-shaped projectiles which are tossed by players towards target receptacles on a portable game board placed on the ground. The target receptacle game board lays on the ground with either face up. The receptacle board targets may also be of different positions so that the further the target whole lies the greater the target values.

PREVIOUS APPLICATION

This application emanates from a previous application; Garbo's UltimateWasher Board; provisional application No. 61/098,181

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a lawn game where players tossprojectiles towards target receptacles placed on a portable board. Theprojectiles are in the shape of washers and the target receptaclesinclude round cups shaped to receive the washers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several types of lawn games have been developed in the prior art. Manyof these games are, in some fashion, a variation on the ancient game ofhorseshoes. In horseshoes, of course, a projectile in the shape of ahorseshoe is directed to a stake placed in the ground some distance fromthe tosser. Points are accumulated based upon whether thehorseshoe-shaped projectile rings the stake or lands within a prescribeddistance from the stake. One variation on this theme uses darts whichare tossed towards a ring placed on the ground, with the object being toland the dart point-down in the ground inside the ring. Still othervariations include rings which are tossed towards a stake with theobject being to place the ring around the stake. Other similar gamesemploy balls which are tossed with the objective of landing near atarget with points scored according to the proximity to the target. Noneof these games provide any type of “handicapping” ability so thatplayers of varying degrees of skill can compete with each other on anequal footing.

Consequently, the need exists for a projectile toss game which usesmultiple targets on a portable board which require varying degrees ofskill so that players of differing abilities can compete fairly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for playing alawn game where relatively flat, annularly or ring-shaped washers aretossed toward a portable target placed on the ground at a specificdistance from the players. The target is formed of a receptacle having aplurality of circular, cup-like receivers or cups of different sizesattached together. The cups are held rigidly in place by a plurality ofspikes, normally with one spike per cup, which are inserted throughapertures in the center of the bottom of each cup and driven into theground.

The cups are preferably of different sizes and different heights. Thisallows the taller of the cups to be used as a “backboard” for theshorter cup(s) so the tossed washers may be bounced off one or more ofthe taller cups into the shorter cup(s). Alternatively, the cups may beoriented such that the taller cup partially hides the shorter cup(s) andacts as a barrier, making it more difficult to toss a washer into theshorter cup(s).

The cups are preferably formed of molded plastic and each circular cuphas a plurality of protuberances or nodes formed on the bottom tosupport a washer tossed therein in spaced relationship relative to thebottom of the cup so as to allow a player to manipulate the player'sfingers beneath a washer in the cup and thereby facilitate removal ofsuch a washer from the cup.

The washers are also preferably formed of molded plastic and can be ofvarying sizes as well to provide an additional “handicapping” system.The washers are constructed so that the bore in the center of eachwasher permits a player to easily insert a finger and remove it from thecups. Therefore, the washer bores are not proportional to the size ofthe washer, but rather, all sizes of washers have bores shaped toreceive the player's finger.

Official Outdoor Game Board Game Rules

-   1. The game begins with two teams of two players per team.-   2. The OUTDOOR BOARD GAME game board lies flat on the ground with    either side facing up.-   3. The players stand 6 feet directly back from the OUTDOOR BOARD    GAME board with one player from each team playing from either side.-   4. Each round consists of one player from each team (playing from    the same side) throwing 4 washers onto the OUTDOOR BOARD GAME board    and sliding them into the holes for points.-   5. The team who throws first, Team A, throws all four washers. Once    team A has thrown all 4 washers, team B throws their washers.-   6. DO NOT pick up washers until the entire round is finished. All 8    washers must be tossed before the round is over.-   7. The point value for each hole corresponds to its position on the    board according to which side the player is throwing from. The side    with 4 holes directly down the center, has a point system where:    -   Hole 1=1 point    -   Hole 2=2 points    -   Hole 3=3 points    -   Hole 4=5 points

The side with 9 holes and a total of 5 rows has a point system whereeach hole is worth the exact amount of points equal to the correspondingrow it is in:

-   -   Row 1=1 point    -   Row 2=2 points    -   Row 3=3 points    -   Row 4=4 points    -   Row 5=5 points

-   8. If a washer is leaning into a hole, but is not laying flat across    the bottom, it is a LEANER and worth only one point, no matter which    hole it is leaning into.

-   9. The game is over when one team has reached 21 points after the    completion of the round.

-   10. All 8 washers must have been thrown to finish the game.

-   11. If one team goes over 21 points it is a BUST, and that team goes    back to 13 points, automatically loosing the round.

-   12. The team that throws first each round is determined according to    the ‘Honors’ system, which means that whichever team scores the most    points in the current round, without busting, throws first the    following round.

-   13. Players must shag their partner's washers from the current round    to continue into the next round.

-   14. If a player makes all 4 washers in one round they receive an    extra ‘bonus toss’. This rule does not apply to Leaners.

-   15. The washer must be laying FLAT across the bottom of the hole to    receive its full point value. Otherwise it is considered a Leaner.    If multiple washers lay on top of each other, all leaning into the    hole, they are ALL worth 1 point each.

-   16. If one player from each team tosses a washer into the same hole    in the same round, both washers are cancelled and no points are    awarded. This rule applies on a washer by washer basis, so if Team A    throws 2 washers into a hole and Team B tosses 1 washer into the    same hole in the same round, the points for Team B's washer is    cancelled along with 1 washer from team A. Team A still gets to keep    the points for the one washer still remaining. If team B then tosses    another washer into the same hole, in the same round, all four    washers would be cancelled and no points awarded for any. If team B    then tosses a third washer into the same hole in the same round,    team B then collects the standard points for that hole. The ‘cancel’    rule does not apply to leaners.

-   17. If a washer misses the board or slides/rolls off, 1 point is    deducted from that team's score.

-   18. Teams can not go below 0 points.

-   19. Team B can attempt to knock off washers left on the board from    Team A, causing team A to lose 1 point.

-   20. Any washer left on the board can be knocked into any hole by any    other washer and the points will be awarded to whichever team the    washer in the hole belongs to.

Detailed overview of all material and elements comprising the OUTDOORBOARD GAME game board:

1) FRAME—the frame (central core) consists of 2″×2″ pine lumberassembled with screws into a 6′ long×2′ wide×1½″ high frame, with two(2) support pieces (2″×2″×2′ lumber) across the middle (widthwise) at18″ from each end.

-   -   A. two (2) pieces of 2×2-6′ pine lumber    -   B. four (4) pieces of 2×2-2′ pine lumber        2) STYROFOAM LAYER—the first layer, placed over top of both        sides of the frame is ½″ thick Styrofoam. The Styrofoam layer        perfectly matches the size of the frame: 6′ long by 2′ wide.    -   A. two (2) pieces of ½″ thick×2′ wide×6′ long Styrofoam, one (1)        piece on both sides of the frame.        3) MASONITE LAYER—The final, exposed layer, placed over top of        the Styrofoam, is ⅛″ thick masonite (hardboard). Again, it will        match the dimensions of the frame & Styrofoam layers at 6′        long×2′ wide.    -   A. two (2) pieces of ⅛″×6′×2′ masonite, one (1) piece on both        sides of the apparatus.        4) SIDE CORNER TRIM—¾″×6′ long wood corner trim runs along the        length of the game board on all four of the 6′ sides.    -   A. four (4) pieces of ¾″×6′ wood corner trim        5) END CORNER TRIM—½″×2′ long vinyl corner trim runs along the        width of the game board on all four corners of the 2′ sides.    -   A. four (4) pieces of ½″×2′ vinyl corner trim        6) HOLE LINING—Each hole is lined with colored GAME FOAM. The        lining for each hole consists of two (2) pieces of the foam. One        piece is ⅛″ thick×⅝″ wide×11″ long and runs along the inside        edges of the holes. The other piece is 4″×4″ and runs along the        entire bottom of each hole to catch the washers as they fall in.    -   A. thirteen (13) pieces of inside edge lining game foam, nine on        one side and four on the other side    -   B. thirteen (13) pieces of bottom lining game foam, nine on one        side and four on the other side        7) EDGE TRIM—All four edges (2 sides & 2 ends) are trimmed with        ⅛″ thick×2¾″ wide masonite.    -   A. two (2) pieces of ⅛″ thick×2¾″wide×6′ long masonite    -   B. two (2) pieces of ⅛″ thick×2¾″wide×2′ long masonite        8) HANDLES—Each game has two (2) metal handles on one side for        carrying.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the objects of the invention are: to provide a lawn gamewhere players toss washer-shaped projectiles at a portable target placedon the ground; to provide such a game where the target is a receptaclehaving multiple circular targets of varying locations to permit playersof different skill levels to compete fairly; to provide such a gamewhere the targets are also of different values.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example,certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate variousobjects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the playable sides of the game,showing the target board, 4 scoring receptacles, and one set of tossingrings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reverse playable side of theapparatus, showing the target board and 9 scoring receptacles.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the target game board showing thedetailed layers of the completed apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows one playable side of the apparatus 10, with four scoringreceptacles placed symmetrically in a row down the center-line of theboard's length, each hole lined with game foam 14. It shows the topmasonite layer 13, side masonite trim 17, wood edge trim 11, cornervinyl trim 12, carrying handles 15, and five tossing rings 16.

FIG. 2 shows the other (reverse) playable side of the apparatus 18, withnine scoring receptacles placed symmetrically according to five separaterows down the center-line of the length of the board as well assymmetrically across the width of the board, again lined with game foam20. It shows the top masonite layer 19, side masonite trim 24, wood edgetrim, 21, carrying handles 22, and vinyl corner trim 23.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the game board apparatus, exposing theinternal materials 25. The core (frame) of the apparatus is 2×2 pinelumber 27, directly on the top and bottom of the core is a layer of ½″Styrofoam 26, followed on both faces and both sides by a layer of ⅛″masonite 29. Finally, covering all four corners is wood edge trim 28.

Detailed overview of all material and elements comprising the OUTDOORBOARD GAME game board:

1) FRAME—the frame (central core) consists of 2″×2″ pine lumberassembled with screws into a 6′ long×2′ wide×1½″ high frame, with two(2) support pieces (2″×2″×2′ lumber) across the middle (widthwise) at18″ from each end.

-   -   A. two (2) pieces of 2×2-6′ pine lumber    -   B. four (4) pieces of 2×2-2′ pine lumber        2) STYROFOAM LAYER—the first layer, placed over top of both        sides of the frame is ½″ thick Styrofoam. The Styrofoam layer        perfectly matches the size of the frame: 6′ long by 2′ wide.    -   A. two (2) pieces of ½″ thick×2′ wide×6′ long Styrofoam, one (1)        piece on both sides of the frame.        3) MASONITE LAYER—The final, exposed layer, placed over top of        the Styrofoam, is ⅛″ thick masonite (hardboard). Again, it will        match the dimensions of the frame & Styrofoam layers at 6′        long×2′ wide.    -   A. two (2) pieces of ⅛″×6′×2′ masonite, one (1) piece on both        sides of the apparatus.        4) SIDE CORNER TRIM—¾″×6′ long wood corner trim runs along the        length of the game board on all four of the 6′ sides.    -   A. four (4) pieces of ¾″×6′ wood corner trim        5) END CORNER TRIM—½″×2′ long vinyl corner trim runs along the        width of the game board on all four corners of the 2′ sides.    -   A. four (4) pieces of ½″×2′ vinyl corner trim        6) HOLE LINING—Each hole is lined with colored GAME FOAM. The        lining for each hole consists of two (2) pieces of the foam. One        piece is ⅛″ thick×⅝″ wide×11″ long and runs along the inside        edges of the holes. The other piece is 4″×4″ and runs along the        entire bottom of each hole to catch the washers as they fall in.    -   A. thirteen (13) pieces of inside edge lining game foam, nine on        one side and four on the other side    -   B. thirteen (13) pieces of bottom lining game foam, nine on one        side and four on the other side        7) EDGE TRIM—All four edges (2 sides & 2 ends) are trimmed with        ⅛″ thick×2¾″ wide masonite.    -   A. two (2) pieces of ⅛″ thick×2¾″ wide×6′ long masonite    -   B. two (2) pieces of ⅛″ thick×2¾″ wide×2′ long masonite        8) HANDLES Each game has two (2) metal handles on one side for        carrying.

1) The OUTDOOR BOARD GAME apparatus is reversible in that it has twosides, one side with four holes and one side with nine holes. Thisattribute allows for different levels of playing skill and multiplestrategies of game play. 2) The specific structural design of theOUTDOOR BOARD GAME apparatus creates a plethora of dynamicfunctionalities. The arrangement of multiple Styrofoam and masonitelayers gives the apparatus a “cushioning” affect which allows for theunique functionality of “cradling” the projectiles when they land on theboard. This attribute allows the washers to land and slide across thesurface smoothly and accurately, rather than bouncing or deflectingarbitrarily in random directions. In addition, the masonite surfacecreates a magnified degree of precision game play and overalldurability, while the Styrofoam layers, coupled with the built-inhandles makes the game board light and easy to carry. 3) Compared toother lawn games which consist of two target apparatuses, one for eachteam; OUTDOOR BOARD GAME consists of only one target apparatus, whichboth teams play on. This creates a unique playing system whichintegrates complex defensive, or “blocking” strategies in addition tonew, enhanced offensive “scoring” strategies. Also, this feature createsmore dynamic cooperative team playing tactics, and new, enhanced playingrules. 4) The colorful Game Foam, which lines the inside and bottom ofthe target cups, creates a higher demand for precision when tossing thewashers as this makes it easy for the washers to bounce out of the cups.It also creates an attractive appearance which gives the apparatus anappealing game design.